Heavy rains, dangerous surf conditions coming to NC coast

SOUTHEASTERN N.C. -- Coastal residents can expect heavy rain and some strong winds Tuesday as a system that could become a tropical storm makes its way up the coast, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The storm was about 160 miles southwest of Wilmington as of 8 p.m. Monday, according to the National Hurricane Center, and moving northeast at about 12 miles per hour, expected to pass through by Tuesday afternoon. Still, authorities are urging residents and vacationers to take precautions.

"The good news is that, so far, this appears to be a fast-moving system that will not dampen plans for the Labor Day weekend," N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper said in a Monday afternoon statement. "However, we know from experience how quickly these storms can change and we want everyone to be cautious and prepared."

An Air Force Hurricane Hunter plane flew through the Potential Tropical Cyclone Ten on Monday afternoon and found a poorly organized system that was unlikely to become a tropical storm until it passed over the Outer Banks, if at all. Late Monday, rain from the storm was beginning to fall over a Southeastern N.C. region that continued monitoring the system.

Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender schools will all operate on two-hour delays Tuesday -- primarily due to flooding concerns. The storm was, according to National Weather Service (NWS) forecasts, expected to result in as much as 6 inches of rain across the region, with winds reaching 40 miles per hour.

Officials warned of the potential for torrential downpours and pounding surf through mid-Tuesday after Southeastern North Carolina was placed under flash flood and tropical storm watches as the system slowly made its way up the East Coast.

Brian Watts, Brunswick County's emergency services director, said his department is relaying information related to flash flood awareness and rip current risk on social media, as well as coordinating and sharing information with municipalities, school systems and law enforcement.

Steven Pfaff, warning coordinator at the Wilmington NWS office, said the storm is approaching after a summer -- and year -- when rain has already soaked the region. The Wilmington region has received 8.43 inches of rain in August -- above the normal 6.44 inches.

Adding as much as six inches of rain to the already saturated ground could, Pfaff said, lead to a higher risk of flooding.

"It's not a good situation to have precipitations above normal when we're heading into the guts of the hurricane season," he said.

Pfaff said the storm is predicted to move through the region quickly, though it will increase the risks of beach erosion and rip currents.

A Monday evening NWS forecast said, "Strong, life threatening rip currents are likely at all area beaches through Tuesday. Large breaking waves of up to 6 feet will create dangerous surf condition, and this wave action could lead to beach and dune erosion as well as some overwash during high tide."

Getting prepared

Carolina Beach Town Manager Michael Cramer said the New Hanover County beach town was pumping out Carolina Beach Lake and performing maintenance on storm water infrastructure Monday morning to try to handle as much of the rainfall as possible. Crews are also checking storm drains and testing generators in Wrightsville Beach, Town Manager Tim Owens said.

Officials in Pender County asked residents to be prepared for winds, power outages and flooding.

"While we hope it is a one-day event, we also understand how our weather can change very quickly," county spokeswoman Tammy Proctor said in a release.

As far as preparing for the storm locally, Watts said residents and visitors should monitor storm reports, make arrangements for pets, check supplies, make sure cars are fueled, store non-perishable foods and water, be cognizant of flash flooding and do not drive through flooded roadways and be prepared to take action.

The approach of the potential Tropical Storm 10 comes as Texas is being hammered by Tropical Storm Harvey, which made landfall north of Corpus Christi as a category 4 hurricane. Houston was being battered by rain Monday morning, with forecasts calling for the system to result in as much as 50 inches of rain around Houston.

"We've watched sympathetically over the past few days as Texans struggle with the impacts of Hurricane Harvey," Cooper said in his statement. "While this storm is not predicted to be that severe, we want everyone to take it seriously and ensure your family is prepared."

Reporter Tim Buckland can be reached at 910-343-2217 or Tim.Buckland@StarNewsOnline.com.

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